Legacy Build No. 001

 

The Beginning of Something Real

This bed was different.

It wasn’t just another build — it was the first piece Flint and I crafted together that led to the creation of W² Wood Co.

At the time, there was no logo, no brand, no archive… just two craftsmen in a shop, handling beams from a century-old barn with respect and intention.

When the work was complete and delivered to Wes and Susanne Williams in Fort Valley, Georgia, something shifted. We realized there was something intentional and meaningful about building this way — something worth growing.

That realization became W² Wood Co.

The Barn That Built It

The wood for this piece began its life in a cotton barn constructed around 1915 in Bleckley County, Georgia by Jack Sikes. For decades, it served a purpose and a family — later used by his son Jerry Sikes.

More than a structure, it was a part of their story.

When the time came for the barn to be dismantled, it was done carefully, board by board, by Bob Scarborough, preserving as much of its integrity as possible.

The barn is now stewarded by Wendi Sikes — granddaughter of Jack and daughter of Jerry — who entrusted these timbers to us. She knew we would not simply reuse the wood, but honor it. That trust carries weight, and it is why this piece exists today.

---

Preserving the Legacy

When the Sikes family barn was dismantled, the goal was not demolition — it was preservation. Each beam was removed with care so the material could live again rather than decay.

These timbers had stood for over a century. They carried the weight of harvest seasons, weather, and generations of work. Preserving them meant more than reclaiming lumber — it meant honoring the hands that originally raised the structure.

When Wendi entrusted the wood to us, she wasn’t just passing along material. She was preserving her grandfather’s and father’s legacy. Our responsibility was to carry that history forward with intention.

From Beam to Bed

The barn yielded massive 10 x 10 heart pine beams that once formed part of its original foundation. Those same beams now stand as the legs of this bed — solid, grounded, and immovable.

Using our Wood-Mizer mill, we carefully split portions of those timbers into 10 x 5 uprights for the headboard, preserving their character and natural markings. The rails and headboard panels were crafted from 2 x 12 white oak boards that once served as the barn’s flooring.

Across the top beam of the headboard, the original peg holes remain visible — quiet reminders of the hands that built the barn more than a century ago.

Once sanded, the wood revealed rich, natural warmth that needed no stain. A hand-rubbed wax finish brought out its depth while allowing the history in the grain to remain visible.

---

A Place to Sit

One beam, carefully split, became the bench at the foot of the bed — sturdy, beautiful, and practical. It’s the perfect place to sit, pause, or tie your boots in the morning… a detail that is honest, simple, and rooted in usefulness.

---

A Commission Worth Honoring

This isn’t just entry No. 1 in the Legacy Archive.

It is a milestone — the first piece that truly defined W² Wood Co.

We are deeply grateful to Wes and Susanne Williams for trusting us with their home and vision before there was even a company name. We are equally thankful to Wendi Sikes for allowing history to live on through this wood, and to Bob Scarborough for dismantling with care.

Legacy Build No. 001 is more than a bed.

It is where we began.

Inspired by this build? 

View the Timber Beam Frame Design

---

Official W² Record

Build Number: 0001
Completed: December 11, 2025
Primary Wood: White Oak & Heart Pine
Original Structure: Cotton Barn (c. 1915)
Originally Constructed By: Jack Sikes
Later Used By: Jerry Sikes
Current Steward: Wendi Sikes (Granddaughter of Jack, Daughter of Jerry)
Dismantled By: Bob Scarborough
Origin: Bleckley County, Georgia
Installed: Fort Valley, Georgia
Crafted By: Jeremy & Flint Williams
Certified & Branded by W² Wood Co.